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TAWAS CITY – Three of the four individuals who were recently charged with controlled substances violations, have been scheduled for their next court hearings. Meiqing Chen, Wenying Wu and Changning Zhen are all due back at the Iosco County 81st District Court building in Tawas City, for a probable cause conference at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8.
As reported in the June 4 edition of this publication, each of the suspects – as well as Zhenhong Nie – are alleged to have been involved in maintaining a drug house and delivering/manufacturing a controlled substance, after authorities discovered 5,057 marijuana plants at a warehouse in Alabaster Township, with an estimated value of more than $5 million.
Iosco County Prosecuting Attorney James Bacarella advised at the time that Chen, Wu and Zhen had pled not guilty, while Nie was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and has not been arraigned on his charges.
As of press time for this week’s edition, District Court staff confirmed that Nie was not arrested by local authorities, but was immediately taken by ICE and has yet to be arraigned.
It was further noted that the bond for Chen, Wu and Zhen – each of whom were lodged at the Iosco County Jail in Tawas City – was set at $50,000, 10% cash/surety each.
Chen and Wu have since posted bond while, at press time, Zhen remained in jail.
Bacarella stated that he has charged the four Chinese Nationals, who were in the country legally, with possession with intent to deliver 200 or more marijuana plants and maintaining a drug manufacturing facility.
According to court records, the controlled substance-delivery/manufacture charge is a felony, punishable by 15 years in prison and/or fines of $10,000,000. The controlled substances-maintaining a drug house charge is a high court misdemeanor, which carries a term of two years in prison and/or costs of $25,000.
Court documents read that members of the Marijuana and Tobacco Investigations Section of the Michigan State Police (MSP) executed a search warrant on May 29, for entry into a building located at 2780 S. US-23 in Alabaster Township.
The search warrant was reportedly obtained after power records received from Consumers Energy allegedly showed an exorbitantly high amount of power being utilized, in addition to the odor of marijuana emanating from the location.
According to authorities, it was during the search when more than 5,000 marijuana plants were located in various stages of growth, from clones to fully flowering plants.
It is further alleged that along with clothing and personal items, numerous packages containing 50 heat sealing plastic bags each, were in the living area of the structure. An MSP representative stated that through their training and experience, they know these heat sealing bags are utilized to separate and distribute dried marijuana flower, ready to sell and/or transport.
Police also claim that there were tire impressions outside of the structure which appeared to back up or pull up to the side of the building, near an alleged grow barn, likely used to load material into the vehicle from inside the barn.
It is noted in court records that following the execution of the search warrant, a pickup truck resembling a vehicle previously observed at the alleged grow location, and baring a New York license plate, was located and surveilled. During surveillance, the vehicle was allegedly traveling on US-23, toward the location of 2780 S. US-23. According to law enforcement, upon approach, the truck was observed aggressively braking and pulling over towards the right, as if to prepare to turn into the driveway of the address.
Once the vehicle was within visual distance to observe law enforcement in the parking lot, the truck allegedly accelerated and continued southbound on US-23.
Court documents read that based on this behavior, the vehicle was pulled over by a fully marked MSP patrol car, while still actively being surveilled. The vehicle was allegedly found to be occupied by Zhen (who was in the driver’s seat), Nie, Wu and Chen, who were traveling with numerous items of luggage each.
Members of the Marijuana and Tobacco Investigations Section of the MSP say that the vehicle’s tires matched the impressions located at the scene during the execution of the search warrant.
While speaking with Wu, authorities claim he stated that the four individuals were traveling from an apartment in Oscoda Township, which he confirmed to be a residence in the 9000 block of Minnesota Street, located on the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base.
As police searched the truck, a package was allegedly located with the same mailing address as the Minnesota Street apartment.
Additionally, the cell phone belonging to Zhen allegedly showed that the group was following a GPS route taking them back to New York.
Based on such factors as the statements made by Wu and the resemblance of the vehicle to that which was previously observed at the Alabaster Township property, a search warrant was then authorized for the residence in Oscoda.
During the execution of same, documents were allegedly found inside which tied this location to a known marijuana grow in Ionia, where a previous search warrant had been executed by the Central Michigan Enforcement Team in January.
A document was also allegedly located in the living room that contained the US-23 address, and a table was covered in a linoleum flooring that matched what was found outside the Alabaster Township structure, still on a roll from shipment.
Numerous large, black duffel bags were reportedly located in the dining room of the Oscoda residence, as well, which matched those found inside the living area of the Alabaster Township building.
A witness allegedly told police that they observed three Asian males and one Asian female leave the Minnesota Street residence, appearing to be in a hurry. The individual also said that the four people had been residing at the apartment for the last couple months.
Bacarella has stated that the alleged illegal grow operation appears to be part of a larger operation involving organized crime, which spans multiple states and China.
He points out that the defendants are all presumed innocent, until proven guilty.
As the case progresses through the court system, updates will continue to be provided in this publication.
”}]] TAWAS CITY – Three of the four individuals who were recently charged with controlled substances violations, have been scheduled for their next court hearings. Meiqing Chen, Wenying Wu and Changning Read More
